Evaluation of the alopecia areata patients on tofacitinib treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic

AŞKIN Ö., Ozkoca D., UZUNÇAKMAK T. K., SERDAROĞLU S.

DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, vol.34, no.2, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 34 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/dth.14746
  • Journal Name: DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Keywords: alopecia, areata, covid, pandemic, tofacitinib
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Tofacitinib is a Janus Kinase 3 inhibitor that is used in the treatment of alopecia areata. We recommended our alopecia areata patients to discontinue their tofacitinib treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic for an average of 80 days. We aimed to evaluate the drug use and the SARS-CoV-2 infection status of alopecia areata patients; and the relationships of recurrence to age, gender, treatment duration, and tofacitinib discontinuation. One-hundred and ninety-one (61.4%) patients were off the drug and 120 (38.6%) were on therapy during the pandemic. The relationship between drug discontinuation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recurrence was statistically significant (P < .001). Statistically significant relationships of age (P = .013) and treatment duration (P < .001) to recurrence were also found. The change in the SALT score differed between the patients on therapy and off therapy during the pandemic (P < .001). A significant negative correlation was found between the change in the SALT score and treatment duration: the spearman correlation test P = .018. We concluded that the patients may continue to the tofacitinib therapy during the rest of the COVID-19 pandemic if the benefit outweighed the risk.